Many classes of antibiotics can treat
pneumonia. The antibiotic your doctor chooses
typically will be based on:
How severe your pneumonia is.
problems that you have, if any.
What type of bacteria may be causing
your pneumonia. Most cases of bacterial pneumonia in otherwise healthy people
are caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and
Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Several other bacteria may cause
pneumonia in the very young, older adults, and those who have other
Whether you have a type of bacteria that some medicines
can no longer kill (resistant bacteria).
Your doctor's choice of antibiotics may also depend on whether
Are otherwise healthy and do not have to go to a
hospital for treatment.
Have other medical conditions but still do
not have to go to the hospital.
Have to go to the hospital.
Have to go to an intensive care unit.
Choosing an antibiotic based on these things avoids the need for
culture and sensitivity testing and allows for rapid
treatment that has a high rate of cure.
ByHealthwise Staff Primary Medical ReviewerE. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Specialist Medical ReviewerR. Steven Tharratt, MD, MPVM, FACP, FCCP - Pulmonology, Critical Care Medicine, Medical Toxicology